briggs



June 3, 1924. 1,496,446

. S. F. BRIGGS LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Filed March 8, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 3, 1924; 1,496,446

' S. F. BRIGGS LIGHTING AND IGNITION SWITCH Filed March 8, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIT/M5 MAMW w Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,496,445 PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN F. BRIGGS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BRIGGS & STRATTON 00., OF IVIILI/VAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION WISCONSIN.

LIGHTING AND IGNITION I swI'roH;

Application filed March 8, 1915.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, STEPHEN F. BRIGGS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of lvz'lilwaukee, in thecounty of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lighting and Ignition Switches, of which the following is vide such a switch capable of dimming the headlights by introducing resistance'in series therewith.

Another object of the inventionis to perfect details of construction of a switch of this type to render it durable and efiicientin use, though inexpensive to manufacture. ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the lighting and ignition switch as herein claimed and all equivalents. V

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like characters 'of referenceindi cate the same parts in the different views:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a lighting and ignition switch constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front View thereof Fig. 4 is a rear view thereof with the base removed and showing the key in place in the switch member;

Fig. 5 is a view of the key alone;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view showing the arrangement of contacts on the switch base with the relative position of the switch arms shown in dotted lines and representing the off position of the switch;

Fig. 7 is a similar View showing the dim position of the switch; and, h

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the on position of the switch.

Fig. 9 is a diagram of electrical circuits controlled by the switch.

In these drawings 10 indicates a casing which is cylindrical and has an inturned Serial No. 12,873.

flange at one end by which it is connected to an ornamental disk-shaped front plate 11, preferably bearing the words, Off, Dim and On for indicating the condi tion of the switch connections in the differ ent positionsof a switch key 12, fitting in a central opening of the plate. A. switch base 13, consisting of a disk of insulating material fitting in the endof the casing 10 and held in place by screws 1%, has a metal sleeve .15 embedded centrally therein and projecting above the recessed upper surface of the base where it is slotted to receive a flat. spring 16 mounted on a post 17 which on the rear of the base is connected by a metal strip 18 with a binding post 19. This flat spring after making a reverse bend enters the slot of the tube'and then engages a contact post 20-which forms a binding post on the back of the base, the binding posts 19 and '20 beingadapted for connection with the terminals ofia magneto for grounding or short circuiting the magneto by the engagement of the spring 16 with the contact post 20 when the key is removed. The key 12 has a reduced cylindrical neck portion 21 and a conical enlarged tip 22 which serve to force the contact spring 16 away from' the contact post 20 when the key is inserted in the switch,'the spring also serving to retain the key in place by engaging the enlarged tip thereof at the reduced neck portion 21. The key has an operating portion 2%, rectangular in cross section, and preferably oblong to fit within a correspondinglyshaped opening in a disk-like switch member 24 of insulatinginaterial which bears against the underside of the front plate 11 between the shoulders formed by the inturned flange of casing 10 where it is held by the spring pressure of'the spring arms of a spring contact spider 25 which is secured to theunderside of 'theswitch member. 24 and bears witlrth'e convex outer ends of 1ts radial spring arms against the upper surface of the insulating base 13. The center of the spider 25 has an opening sufliciently larger than the open The top of the base 13 is provided ities for the convex ends of spring contact arms 25, and certain of these depressions are formed in the ends of metal bushings forming stationary contacts 26, 27 and 28. These stationary contacts form binding posts and the binding posts 26 and 28 have the terminals of a resistance unit 29 connected therewith, such resistance unit being here shown in the form 01": a wire wound tube with an insulating coating, though it may be of any form.

In connecting up the switch the binding post, 19 is connected to the ground at 30, and the binding post 20 by a wire 31 with one terminal of the armature of a magneto 32 whose other terminal is grounded at The binding post 26 is connected by a wire 34: with one or more headlights 85 which are also connected by a wire 36 with one terminal of a battery 37 whose other tei minal; 38 is connected to binding post 27, while binding post 28 is connected by a wire 39 with a taillight 40 which is also connected by a wire ll with wire 36 leading to thebattery. In the oil position of the switch, as shown in Fig. 6, the only stationary contact engaged by one of the spring arms 25 is battery connected contact 27, but in the dim position of the switch, shown in Fig. 7, both the contact 27 and the contact 28 are engaged by the spring arms, thus establishing a circuit from one terminal of the battery through wire 38, contact 27, contact arms 25, contact 28, wire 39, taillight 4E0, wires n and 36, to the other, terminal of the battery. Also, a circuit is established through the headlights with the resistance coil 29 in series there with as follows: starting with one terminal of the'battery 87- wire 38, contact 27 spring contacts 25, contact 28, resistance 29, contact 26, wire;3l, headlights 35, and wire 36, to the other, terminal of the battery. In this, position of the switch, therefore, the tail light and the headlights are burning, but the headlights are dimmed. In the on position of the switch, as shown in Fig. 8, all three contacts 27, 26 .and 28 are engaged bv the contact arms so that the circuit through the taillight from contact 28 is the same as before, but the circuit through the headlightsis without the resistance 29 in series therewith. for the contact arm 25 engaging contact 26 establishes a circuit through the headlights direct, this circuit being, fronione terminal of the battery 37, wire 38, contact 27, contact arms contact 26, wire 34-, headlights 85, and wire 36 to-the other terminal of the battery.

Inanyposition ofthe switch the presence of the key 12 in the switch serves to hold the contact spring 16 out of engagement with the contact post 20. and thus open the short circuit connection for. the magneto armature so that it may produce its usual office in the ignition circuit 42. As illustrated, the ignition circuit 12 includes primary winding 13 of an induction coil grounded at -14, the secondary winding 15 oi which is grounded at 416 and is connected by a wire 1-7 with a distributor 4:8, the contacts 49 01 which are connected with the respective grounded spark plugs 50 of the engine.

lVhenever the switch key is removed from the switch the spring contact 16, by engag ing the contact post 18, grounds or short circuits the armature ot the magneto, thus rendering it ineffective for producing ignition and so preventing unauthorized use of the car. In order that the switch may be confined to the three positions referred to. the switch member 24 has a pair of stop pins 51 projecting radially therefrom and adapted to contact with a stationary stop pin on the rim of the casing 10. The shape of the ends of the contact arms and the shape of the recesses into which they fit is such that the switch is firmly held in any of its operative positions, and spacing posts 5-3 on the switch member 24: by engaging the base 13 prevent these parts being positioned too close together for proper operation of the spring arms in assembling the device.

The switch of this invention torms a simple and inexpensive means for controlling the lighting circuits, as well as the ignition circuit, giving to the headlights either a full, strong light, or a dim light. and lighting the tail light in either position, while permitting the key to be removed in any position of the switch to lock the car by rendering the ignition circuit ineffective.

When battery ignition is used the spring contact 16 is so disposed with relation to the contact post'20 that it contacts therewith when the key is inserted and springs away therefrom when the key is removed, it being only necessary to bend the end of the spring to engage the contact post on the other side thereof to effect this change.

It will be understood that the automobile switch of this invention constitutes a lighting switch by means of the co-operating contacts 25, 26, 27 and 28. and an ignition switch by means of the co-operating contacts 16 and 20, wherein the removable plug or key 12 constitutes a removable actuating member for the ignition switch and wherein the in sulating disk 24 engaged with the square portion of the removable key constitutes a means controlled by the actuating member for operating the lighting switch,

It will also be understood that the automobile switch of this invention is one in which the contacts 16 and 20 control an ignition circuit and is one in which the contacts 25. 26 27 and 28 control an electric lighting circuit including a plurality of lights 35 and 40, and this single switch construction for controlling the current in both of said circuits will in one position maintain the lights 85 and 40 brilliant and during a part of the operation thereof will dim some of the lights b including resistance 29 in series with the lights It is obvious that the particular arrangement of stationary contacts and spring arms is not essential, as the desired results may be obtained with various other arrange ments, as for instance the dimming of the headlights may be effected by a connection in which the headlights are included in series with each other, or by making connections for auxiliary headlight lamp bulbs, and connections may be provided for side lights with either dim or onpositions ot the switch, or both. In the manufacture of the switch it may be desirable to construct the spring spider with arms corresponding to the various recesses into which they fit and then such spring arms as are notessential for the particular arrangement of the switch desired may be removed.

out direct connection with thetail-light ter minal 28, it is ineffective forfmaterially changingthe brilliancy of the tail-light be 7 cause of the relatively greater resistanceot the tail-light. Thus when it is inconvenient to provide a switch arm forthejtail-light contact in the on position of the switch, the same may be dispensed with and the taillight will receive its current supply through the dimming coil. I

.VVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch, comprising a base having contacts. a rotary switch member having contact means for engaging the contacts, a removable key for engaging and turning the switch member, and other switch contacts actuated by the insertion of the key.

2. An automobile lighting and ignition switch, comprising a casing, an insulating base therein having stationary contacts for connection with the battery and the automobile lights, an insulating switch member within the casing, spring arms carried thereby and engaging the base member and one position thereof.

tacts, a key fitting in the opening of the switch member for turning the same, said key having a contracted neck portion, a spring engaging the contracted neck portion of the key for holding the key in place, saidspring being moved out of position by the insertion of the key, and a contact post enby the spring in one position thereof. An automobile lighting and ignition switch, comprising a casing, a base fitting therein stationary contacts on the base for connection with the battery and the automobile lights, a switch member, spring arms carried thereby and bearing on the base to itormspring contacts for engag ng the station'ary contacts, a tube inthe base, a key fitting in an opening of the switch member and n the tube and having a contracted neck portion, a spring projecting through an opening in the side of the tube and engaging the contracted neck portion of the key, and a contactpost engaged by the spring in 5.,An automobile lighting and ignition switch, comprising a cylindrical casing with an inwardly girojecting flange at one end thereof, a rontplate'secured to the flanged endot the'casing, an insulating base fitting in the other end of the casing and having stationary contacts for connection with the source of current supply and the automobile lights, an insulating disk forming a switch memberbearing against the back of the front plate and positioned between the edges'of the flange, of the casing, spring a tube in the basereceiving, the end of the key, a contact spring on the base passing through an opening in the side of the tube for engaging the contracted neck portion I of the key, and a contact post engaged by the contact spring in one position thBTBOf.

6. An automobile lighting and ignition switch, comprising a rotary switch member adapted to establish connections for controlling the automobile lights, a removable key for turning the switch member, and ignition controlling means dependent upon the attachment of the key for rendering the ignition inoperative when the key is withdrawn. 7. In a combination switch. a removable handle, switch contacts controlled by the attachment of the handle, and other switch contacts controlled by the turning of the attached handle.

8. A lighting switch and an ignition switch for automobiles or the like, a removable actuating member for said ignition switch, and means controlled by said actuating member for operating said lighting switch. v

9. In a combination lighting and ignition switch, a key controlled lighting switch, and an ignition switch actuated by the introduction of the key. I

10. In a combination lighting and ignition switch, a key controlled movable lighting switch, and a spring-pressed member adapted to be moi'ed by the insertion of the key to render an ignition circtiit effective.

11. An automobile lighting and ignition switch, comprising an oscillating switch member adapted to establish connections for controlling the automobile lights, a re ofa able key for turning the switch membelg'and ignition controllingmeans dependent attain the attachment of the key for rendering the ignition inoperative when the key is withdrawn.

12. A switch comprising a base having,

switch, and an auxiliary switch actuated by the key. N a e 14. A switch comprising a base having contacts, a rotary switch member having contact means' for engaging the contacts, a removable key for controlling the actuation of said switch m'ember, and other switch contacts actuated by the key.

15. A pair of electrical switches and a removable common actuating means therefor, said means actuating one of said switches by a movement in a longitudinal direction and the other ofsa'id switches by a movement in a rotary direction.

16. An ignition switch and a lighting switch for-automobiles, an enclosing casing therefor, and a removable common member extending through said casing for operating both of switches, said member operating the ignition switch by amovement in a longitudinal direction and the lighting switch by a movement in a rotary direction.

17. A lighting switch and an ignition switchf'or automobiles or the like, and a removable common actuating member for independentlyoperating saidswitches. I g

18; An ignition switch and I a lighting switch for automobiles, said lighting switch haying aplilra'lity of positions, an enclosing casing for said switches, a removable C0111- mon operating member for said switches, said memberoperating the ignition switch by being partly drawn or inserted in'to the enclosingcas'ing and the lighting switch by being rotated;

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, inp'resence of two itnesses.

A A, STEPHEN F. BRIGGS. \Vitnesses: R, S.V G.NQA I;IN)VWELL,

KATHnRINE Hour; 

